Re: pat downs

I have never been subjected to anything other than half-assed, cursory security checks at Coachella. One day I was so drunk that I don't even remember going through security. The security seems more interested in stopping people from bringing in bottled water than they do in stopping contraband.

Re: pat downs

All bets are off this year. They had to hire added "professional" security after the rape at Stagecoach last year. That may ultimately mean nothing regarding how serious the searches are since they still need to get 70K people in through the gates efficiently, but just stash your shit well the first day just to be safe.

However, if they're doing boob-grab-pat-downs I'm sure it's just for their own benefit. Aren't new boobs supposed to be massaged regularly anyway?

Re: pat downs

How easy is it to sneak alcohol into the festival from the campgroungs? sasquatch was easy last year but Lollapalooza is always a bitch to sneak in flasks, plastic 5ths, etc... what's the protocol at 'Chella?

Re: pat downs

I agree with whoever said Outside Lands was way worse. Most of the time @ Coachella it's like a pat on the back, "Welcome to Coachella!"

In '06 to save money on water we attempted to get in those 3 gallon jugs of water as "1" bottle of water. It worked half the time. The other time we didn't want to waste the water and so we yelled out " Who wants water poured on them!" It was a scorcher if I remember and quickly a nice single file line formed and we dumped out ~ 9 gallons on a bunch of people.

Re: pat downs

I once snuck some vodka into Outside Lands by wrapping it in a blanket in my backpack (it was one of those bigger Phillips flask shaped bottles). The security guard felt it through the bottom and said "What's the round plastic thing at the bottom of your backpack." I panicked for a sec, then said "That's just the backpack."
She looked at me for a minute, clearly not buying what I just told her, handed me back my bag, and let me go on through! Neither me nor my GF could believe we got away with it!!

But, as with every event, security is always a crapshoot depending on who you get.

Re: pat downs

Originally Posted by christenson10

How easy is it to sneak alcohol into the festival from the campgroungs? sasquatch was easy last year but Lollapalooza is always a bitch to sneak in flasks, plastic 5ths, etc... what's the protocol at 'Chella?

Re: pat downs

Just walk through the gates Friday without anything on you to get a feel for security. Make sure you look around and scope out which security guards are checking thoroughly. Then leave in a few minutes and come back with your shit.

Re: pat downs

For guys with shorts its usually a pocket grab. They never get too high up on the crotch region, you just gotta know who's cool. Theres been times when I've literally walked through without them saying a word.